Device for detecting counterfeit articles.



E. E. FLORA.

DEVICEVFOR DETECTING COUNTERFEIT ARTICLES.

APPLxcATloN FILED' APR. 7. 191s.

1,166,895. Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Il IZ I3 lll-|516 I7 I8 I9202|222324252627Z829 E. E. FLORA. DEVICE FOR DETECTING COIJNTERFEIT ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7 l9l5.

Patented Ja.4,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 .di "W/L,

@l mm /Q narran sTaTns TATTNT erstes..

ELLSWORTH E. FLORA, OF CI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO PORTER COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION 0F ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR DETECTING COUNTEREEIT` ARTICLES.

Pateirted Jari. 4,' 1916.

Application led April 7, 1915. Serial No. 19,719.

of markings and comparing the position Vof.

one or more features of the design on one of the articles, relative to suoli marks, with the position occupied by a corresponding feature, or features of the design on the other articles relative toy corresponding marks, this method being applicable more vparticularly to the detecting `of counterfeit paper money, coins, bonds, postage or revenue stamps, certificates and other articles the design on which cannot be produced in exact imitation of the design on a genuine article, by the photographic process, orone involving the cutting of a die in simulation of the genuine article, the method above stated, and for carrying out which I have more particularly devised my improved device, being no part of myinvention and notV claimed herein, this method forming the subject of a pending application, No. 19612 for United States patent filed by another April 6, 1915.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vface viewof my improved device showing two articles positioned therein and intended to represent bills, or

notes, bonds or other article, one being genuine and the other a counterfeit. I Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 on Fig. 1

and viewed Vin the direction of the arrow.

i i Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a broken view of the lefthand end of the structureY shown in Fig. 2, showing the device for holding one edge of the article, in yposition for inserting the-edge o f the latter into engagement therewith.; and Fig. `5 is a broken view of one ofthe two similar shiftable members between which and .a glass plate ruled with intersecting 1 lines the articles to be compared are positioned and by'means of which they may be adjusted relative to saidv intersecting lines.

In order that the particular use for which I havev devised my improved detecting means, may be vmore clearly understood, it may be stated thata desirable way of carrying outI lthe method above referred to is to apply a plate of glass with a series of parallel li'nes formedthereon with the lines of one series intersecting `the lines of the other series, against the faces of the articles to be compared, one known to be genuine and the other one thegenuinenessrof which is to be determined, with the articles centered relative to the said intersecting linesl so that the position' occupied `by a feature, or features, of the Vdesign of the genuine article, relative to certain of theintersecting lines, may be compared with the'position, or positions, of this same feature, or features, in

`the design on the other article relative to the sameor corresponding lines.

The device illustrated in the drawings and which is provided preferably for receiving a 'genuine'v article and also one the genuineness of which is to be determined, inorder that the des1redexam1nat1on or comparison maybe expeditiously made, but which, if desired, may be provided for receiving only one article,`comprises a base 6 provided on its upper side toward opposite edges with plates and'S, these plates -being provided along their` inneredges with Hanges 9 and 10 respectively, which are upwardly offset from the-said base -as more Iclearly represented-in Fig., 2. The plate 7 is stationary on the base 6` as Iby screwing it thereto `as represented at 11, the other of the plates, 8, being adjustable .on the base 6 toward' and away from the plate 7, and for the purpose of saidadjustment the plate 8 preferably contains towardlits opposite ends elongated'slots 12 extending crosswise of the plate andthroughwhich the threaded ends of screws 13 secured in thebase 6, extend, the upper ends of the sc'rews13 carrying thumb-nuts lll. adaptedto be screwed against the face ofthe plate 8. By thisconstruction the plate 8 is adapted to be adjusted toward and away from the platel 7 and releasably secured in adjustedy position for a purpose hereinafterv explained( The base 6 `intermediate the'plates 7 and ,8 is provided on its upper face with a sheet 15, preferably of felt which is slightly'thicker than the plates 7 and 8. buperposed and movable on the felt sheet 15 is a pair of shiftable plates, represented at 16 and 17, and adapted to be adjusted in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter described.

Extending above the shiftable members 16 and 17 and adapted to be held releasably between bars 18 and 19 secured to the upper side of the base 6 and extending preferably at right angles to the plates 7 and 8, and overlapped at its edges by the flanges 9 and 10 of the plates 7 and 8, is a plate 2O of transparent material, preferably glass. The plate 20 by preference is provided with two sets of parallel lines a@ and y, the lines and jz/ being uniformly spaced and arranged at ninety degrees to each other, as represented, to cause the plate to present a checkered appearance, each one of the squares thus produced being preferably of the same area, namely one-quarter inch square. lThese lines may be formed on or in the plate 2O in any suitable manner so long as they can be seen by the observer when the plate is positioned over the articles to be compared as hereinafter described. By preference the lines y, when the plate 20 is positioned inthe device as stated and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, extend at their opposite ends substantially in registration with a set of numerals provided in duplicate on the upper sides of the bars 18 and 19, these numerals running from 1 to 29 inclusive and serving to identify each particular line y, the lines of each series extending at their opposite ends in substantial registration with the series of letters A to lvl inclusive imprinted on the upper sides of the flanges 9 and 10, whereby lines of the upper series thereof are indicated by the letters A to M inclusive and corresponding letters are applied to the lines to of the lower series thereof. The plate 2O above the line A and at opposite sidesof the lines 1 to 29 at both ends of these lines, is provided with a scale represented at 21, the scale being in graduations of substantially one-sixteenth of an inch.

The shiftable members 16 and 17 are each of the same construction, the body portion thereof being formed of a plate of a length slightly less than the length of the plate 20, and of a width somewhat less than one-half of the width of said plate, and each provided at its vopposite ends with extensions 21 and 22 which project through elongated slots 23 in the plate members 7 and 8, these slots being of suoli length that the members 16 and 17 may be shifted through a considerable distance for a purpose hereinafter explained. Each of the plate members 16 and 17 is provided on its upper face with a friction surfacing preferably in the form of a rubber sheet indicated at 24, this sheet preferably extending short of one of the ends of each of said members, as represented, whereby the upper surface at the end of each member 16 and 17 presents an offsetv portion, there being provided on each of the extensions adjacent to the last referred to ends of said shiftable members, a springfinger 25 held at its outer end to the extension 22 and extending at its free flexible end into the space between the flanges 9 and 10 where it extends part way across the body portion of the plate carrying it to a point slightly short of the adjacent end of the rubber sheet 2liand in registration with said offset portion there being provided on each of the lingers 25 a. finger-grip 26, whereby the free ends of the fingers 25 may be upwardly flexed against the tension thereof which normally causes them to bear down on the body portions of the members 16 and 17.

rill-he device may be used in the following manner: Assuming the plate 20 to be removed and the plate 8 to be shifted to the right in Fig. 1, the operator applies to the rubber sheets 24 on the members 16 and 17, the two articles to be compared, as for example, an article known to be genuine, such as the one represented at 27, and which may be a bank note or the like, the design shown thereon being merely fanciful; and applies to the member 17 an article the genuineness of which is to be detected and which in the case illustrated would represent a counterfeit bank note, as at 28, and made to simulate the bank note 27, the edges of the notes 27 and 28 at the left hand side of Figs. 1 and 2 extending beyond the rubber sheets 2A, and in this position being clamped between the members 16 and 17, and the inner ends of the spring-fingers 25 for holding the notes against displacement on the members to which they were applied as before stated. The glass plate 20 is then inserted under the flange 9 and in superposed position on the notes 27 and 28, whereupon the operator shifts the plate 8 to the left in Fig. 1 to cause its flange 10 to overlap the edge of the plate 20 as represented, the nuts 1libeing then screwed down to clamp the plate 8 in position. N hen this has been done the operator by grasping the handle pieces on the extensions 21 and 22 independently adjusts the members 16 and 17 to cause the notes 27 and 28 to become properly positioned relative to the intersecting lines a; and jz/ to permit of the proper comparison being made of the one note with the other. For this purpose he would preferably line up the notes by using the marginal extremities of the design as a guide, so adjusting the member 16 that the upper line of the design on note 27 will register with the line A of the upper series thereof and the design be centered relative to the line 15 as shoivn. The'design onthenote'27 inthe;`

i accompanying'.illustrationfis off. a length` vthenbe adjusted tocause the upper lineof `thedesign on the note 'to'aline'yvith Vthe equal to thev distance fromfline 1'to lineZQ, butwere the .design ofthe notelongerthe operator would adjust thememberlfso' 'that'the design would extend to the let beyond line 1 and 1;@l theright beyond line @Sian equal distance. -The member 17 ,would line'o theV lower series thereofa'ndfthe design to b e centered relative tothe linev 15,.:as explained, of the note 27;A With the"E notes, 27 and 28 "thus similarly positioned lflsive,V or 1 to 29 inclusive; or their'points of intersectionI as do'the corresponding feaiigui'es oi:` the 4design inthe case of the 4note relative to theintersecting lines as do thei;

vvarious lines of the scroll "device will vlo yrelative to the lines 1 to 29inclusive, and the'tivof'series of lines'e. to M inclusivethe' person seeking to determine the genuin'eness,I.l

ofthe note 28' may readily accomplish this by noting wherein -any `features *of thedesign on the bill 28l do notV4 occupy the same position relative-'to the 'lines- A- to M. inclu` tures'of the design on the note y27.` 'hus in theillustration presented, yvhilei'tlie border 28 occupy substantially the, same position' corresponding eaturesfof the-"note 27,the

seen 'to' cccupy'very dierentpositions rela tive to these intersecting lines in thejcase o theV note 28 than'in the'case of tlie,note,27v

i V Which thus indicates to the oiiefniaki-ng the lcomparison that the note 2S ,is a c'o'unterfeit;I

. Sbeca'useivere'itvnot, all of the'eatures offits' n design would 'occupy the" sainepositions? A relative to the intersecting'lii'ies on theplate .2O V.as-dorthe design on y the note 27, except'vvhere .two

corresponding 'features ofV the 'fr original notes are slightly diierent in"v lengthdue to greater` Vshrinkage the case vof one' than the other,-inwhichcase the Vpositions of tlievario'us features ofthe two-- bills o r notes would not exactly `correspond A vto the intersecting lines.y These' differences` however, would bear 'a definite ratioltomthe:

l L dierence between the lengths of the notes,

lines for making the examination.'

The plate 2O With the intersecting linesy thereon as stated constitutes in effect a gagf i ritiene@ ing deviceb'y. which *they comparisons herein# f before describedfmaywbe made, and'fit is xpreferred that the .gagingj device be fin' the ,'orm shown 'and des'cribed l This-1 is ynot y tion, as it may :be provided` ofV any other A lsuitable form'. f urthermor'e .various other essentialV tothe carrying out yof thev invenchang'esj'and :modifications maybe made in Q the construction ,illust-i;atedl Without depart; ling froihth'espirit .omy invention, it being lniyf intention. to' v'claim my" invention as',

thef priorjstateofl the broadly and Vfully'y as Letters Patent is:- l A .deviceof y 'comprising a base, a gaging member thereon an article :beneath it,` and' an" article-supoeneath saidgaging ineiiibeixr.. L Eyre: levice or the character set forth through'an article beneath it, means onsaid the char'acterA set forth porting member {shiftable alongv saidbasev oase* engaging the edge portions of said l member to "Ihold it in position on .saldi base, g and kan: article-supporting"member Shri-table d 3; A device ofthe ichlfiaractersetfforthfcom:` prisinga base;fa gagin'g"member thereon and adapted to expose tofvieiv therethrough eomprisingfa base, a gaging member there".` n on andadaptedf to expose to view `there andiadapted tojeiposeto v ievv therethrough a' an' article beneath "it, relatively 2 movable members on sfaidbaseadapted to releasably engage l,edge `'portions Y of sa-id gaging mem-` bestand van article-supporting member. shiftable ber t-oh'old infpdsitionxon'said icov alongv said base beneath said'gagingmember.

1.1 At device` 'ofi' the character set' forth @Gmrrlme a baseeeelne member thereon an l article beneath `it,' relatively movable flanged memberson said base adapted-to' ref leasablyengageedges"of said gaging member' andhold litin yposition onfsaid base, and an iet and adapted-to expose to view therethrough Y article-supporting member shiftalole along l said base .beneath said gaging member.

5. A device ofthe character set forth com.-

` prisingy a base,a gaging'smember' thereon vand adapted to expose to ,View therethrough [an article beneath it, members on saidbase y engaging edge portions of said `member to l "Y Y' hold it inpo'sition on said base, one `oi said members containing a slot, and an'articlevsaid rgaging member and having 'a portion extending through'said slot and by Vwhichl said article-'supporting shifted. 'f Y 6. A device prisingf a base,

an articleabeneath it, means on said. base. enf

. aefine ed e.' ortions of said. -I'neinber to :Q Y, y

member Vmay 'bef.l 1

of the'character set torth comel a gagingmember thereon .Y and adapted to expose to vievvrtherethrough 1 1210 supporting member 'v on saidbase beneath-2-v hold it in position on said baseand containing slots, and an article-supporting member on said base beneath said gaging member and having portions extending through Said slots and by which said article-supporting niemeer may be shiited. Y

7.1i device of the character set forth comprising' a base, a gaging member thereon and adapted to expose to view theresupporting. member shiiitable on vsaid base beneath said gaging member, and means for trictionally holding said article-supporting member between said base and gaging member. Y y

9. i device of the character set forth comprising a base provided on its Lipper yface with a sheet et yieldable material, a gaging member on said base and adapted to expose yto view therethrough. an article beneath it,

vliianged members mounted on said baseto be' relatively adjustable and adapted to engage said gaging member atY opposite edges thereof, said flanged members containing slots, and an article-supporting member located in the space between said sheet of yieldable material on the base and said gaging member and shiftable relative to these arts said article-su ortino member hav-v p 5 b ing portions extending throughsaid slots and by which it may be adjusted along saidV base, the whole being constructed and arranged to cause said article supporting member, when the parts are assembled as stated, to be rictionally held between said base and gaging member for preventing accidental shitting .oit Said article-supporting member after adjustment.

10. A device of the character set forth comprising a base, a gaging member thereon and adapted to expose to view therethrough an article beneath it, an article-supporting member shittable along said base beneath said gaging vmember, and means. on said article-supporting member for gripping an article thereto.

11. A device of the character set forth comprising a base, a gaging member thereon and adapted to expose to view therethrough an article beneath it, and an articlesupporting member shittable along said base beneath said gaging member, and a spring clip on said article-supporting member adapted to grip an article and hold it in Vposition thereon.

l2. A device of the character set forth comprising a base, agaging member thereon and adapted to expose to view therethrough an article beneath it, an article-supporting member shiiitable along said base beneath said gaging member, said article- YVsupporting member having an offset portion adjacent to the end of the surface thereof againstpwhich thevarticle bears, anda clip device on said article-supporting member registering with said oiiiset .portion and adaptedto be clamped yagainst the upper tace ci' the edge of thev article in position on said member.

nLLsvvonfri-i ri. ritorni.

In the vpresence of- NELLIE B. DEARBORN,

A. C. FISCHER.

`Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner vof Patents,

' Y Washington, D. C. 

